LESSON TWO Josiah Gets It Right References Monthly Theme 2 Kings 22; The Bible teaches us that we belong to the family of God. 2 Chronicles 34; Prophets and Kings, The Bible Lesson at a Glance pp. 384, 385, 392–406 At the early age of 8 Josiah becomes king of Judah. He reigns for 31 years. As a young man he begins “to seek the God of his father [ancestor] David” (2 Chronicles 34:3). He travels throughout the land of Judah ordering that all the idols be broken, altars torn down, and places of idol worship destroyed. He orders the priests Memory Verse to use temple offerings to restore the temple as a place of wor- “[Josiah] did what ship to the true God. The priests take charge of the work. Under was right in the eyes Josiah’s leadership, God’s people work together to put God first in of the Lord” their land. (2 Chronicles 34:2, NIV). This is a lesson about community. King Josiah, though very young, had a great influence on his people. He led them away from idolatry to worship of the true God. We, too, can encourage others in our community of faith to Objectives worship God in the right way. The children will: Know that Teacher Enrichment others are influenced “According to Bible usage idolatry includes both the worship of by our faithfulness to God. false gods in various forms and the worship of images as symbols Feel a desire to do what is of Jehovah. The New Testament broadens the concept of idolatry right at all times. to include such practices as gluttony (Phil. 3:19) and such attitudes Respond by asking God to as covetousness (Eph. 5:5). . . . lead in everything we do. “Idolatry has been practiced from early times. The immediate ancestors of Abraham ‘served other gods’ (Joshua 24:2, KJV). . . . Idolatry was a frequent sin of Israel (Deut. 32:16; 2 Kings 17:12; Ps. 106:38), and was of more than passing concern to the early Christian church (1 Cor. 12:2). . . . The Message “From the time of the conquest of Canaan to the Babylonian I can be a good captivity idolatry was a persistent, undermining influence in the example to others. experience of Israel. In the earlier period there was a series of cycles: Israel would lapse into idolatry and would fall victim of aggression. In time a judge would arise who would free the people from oppression and restore the worship of Yahweh. This pattern was repeated over and over (see Ps. 106)” (The SDA Bible Dictionary, p. 519).

Room Decorations See Lesson 1.

20 LESSON TWO www.gracelink.net/primary COMMUNITY

Program Overview Lesson Section Minutes Activities Materials Needed

Welcome ongoing Greet students at none door; hear pleased/ troubled ______Readiness Activities up to 10 A. Domino Effect set of dominoes 1 B. A Book With a shelf paper, dowels, glue Difference

______Prayer and Praise* up to 10 Fellowship none Any Time Songbook Sing for Joy Mission Children’s Mission Offering offering container used last week Prayer ______Bible Lesson up to 20 Experiencing the Story scroll (see Readiness B), Bible-times 2 costumes, chair, throw, crown, royal cloak Memory Verse large scroll Bible Study Bibles ______Applying the up to 15 Putting God First scrolls from Readiness B or use the 3 Lesson following to make one: dowels, glue, shelf paper ______Sharing the up to 15 Making Ripples bowl, water, small stones 4 Lesson

*Prayer and Praise may be used at any time during the program. www.gracelink.net/primary LESSON TWO 21 TEACHING THE LESSON

Welcome Welcome students at the door. Ask how their week has been—what they are pleased/troubled about. Listen to last week’s memory verse and encour- age the children to share any experiences from last week’s lesson study. Have them begin the Readiness Activity of your choice. 1 Readiness Activities Select the activity most appropriate for your situation.

A. Domino Effect You Need: Have the children line up the dominoes, a half inch (1.5 cm) apart, standing on • set of domi- their shortest end. When they are finished lining them up, ask one of the children to noes (several push over the first domino. Watch the effect. if a large class) Debriefing Allow response time as you ask: What happened? How could one domino make the whole group fall? We call that a “domino effect.” Each domino had an effect on the next one. Our actions are like the dominoes. What we do affects others. In our lesson today we will learn how a young boy’s influence spread over a whole nation. Today’s message says:

I CAN BE A GOOD EXAMPLE TO OTHERS.

Say that with me.

B. A Book With a Difference You Need: Help the children glue the dowels to each end of the paper. Show how to roll it up • 24 inches (60 from both ends to form a scroll. (Save the scroll for Applying the Lesson.) cm) of shelf paper per Debriefing child Ask: Where did people use scrolls? (In Bible times.) Do you know where people • 2 dowels still use scrolls today? (In synagogues every Sabbath.) The scrolls were made of per child leather. We are going to learn about a special scroll that had been hidden for a • glue long time. It was discovered because one boy was a good example. Today’s message is . . .

I CAN BE A GOOD EXAMPLE TO OTHERS.

Say that with me.

22 LESSON TWO www.gracelink.net/primary Prayer and Praise Any Time Fellowship Report the students’ joys and sorrows (pleased and troubled) as reported to you at the door (as appropriate). Allow time for sharing experiences from last week’s lesson study and review last week’s memory verse. Acknowledge any birthdays, special events, or achieve- ments. Give a special warm greeting to all visitors.

Suggested Songs “Clap Your Hands” (Sing for Joy, no. 4) “Bless His Holy Name” (Sing for Joy, no. 9) “We Are the Church” (Sing for Joy, no. 141) “The Family of God” (Sing for Joy, no. 139) “Alleluia” (Sing for Joy, no. 16)

Mission Share a story from Children’s Mission. Emphasize how people’s actions affected others.

Offering Say: When we give our offerings, we support the work of mis- You Need: sion pastors, doctors, nurses, teachers, mechanics, pilots, and many • offering con- more. By supporting their work, we are able to influence others. tainer from Lesson 1 Prayer Ask each child to name a way that they would like to be a better influence. Form pairs and ask the children to pray for each other. Allow time. When the pairs finish, have an adult ask God to fill each child with the Holy Spirit.

www.gracelink.net/primary LESSON TWO 23 2 father’s example. He was so evil! Some Bible Lesson of his officers hated him so much that they murdered him in the palace. When Experiencing the Story the people heard this, the officers were You Need: put to death. It was after this that I • scroll Characters: King Josiah, Hilkiah, became king. • chair covered Shaphan. The remainder of the children I had seen how so many people had with cloth to should be divided up as “courtiers” stand- suffered, and I was determined that I was make a throne ing near the king, people giving offerings, not going to be like grandfather • crown Manasseh or my father Amon. I was • royal cloak builders, gatekeeper-priests. (Children going to obey God. • Bible-times may need to have more than one role.) costumes I dedicated myself to God and asked Setting the Scene Him to use me to help the people learn Invite a man to play the role of more about Him. I began to understand Josiah. As he tells his story have work- that we needed to get rid of all the idols men, courtiers, Hilkiah, and Shaphan and altars to the false gods. I went mime the story. Before Sabbath School through the land asking people for their starts, hide a scroll. Tell “Hilkiah” where it help. (Mime asking people for help. Groups is before you begin the lesson. of children mime breaking down altars and idols.) When they broke down the idols, Read or tell the story. they ground them to powder. (Children My name is Josiah. When I was mime grinding.) Then I sprinkled the pow- about your age I became king. To be der on the graves of the people who had exact, I was 8 years old. Although I was worshipped false gods. (Mime sprinkling young, I had heard a lot about my grand- powder.) father and father, and I knew that they By the time I was 26, I knew what were not good kings. I wanted to do most of all. I wanted to My grandfather, King Manasseh, did purify and repair the temple. I called my many evil things. He built idols and assistant, Shaphan, and gave him some places for people to worship false gods instructions to pass on to Hilkiah, the and the stars in the sky. He even burned high priest. one of his sons in the fire as a sacrifice to “Tell Hilkiah to gather all the money heathen gods. And he built altars to the the gatekeeper-priests have collected false gods in God’s temple. He talked to from people at the temple. Tell him that evil angels and killed many people who this money is to be used to repair the had not done anything wrong. temple. He is to give the money to the King Manasseh also lost the Book builders. They are to pay workers and of the Law, God’s special message to buy supplies with it.” His people. The priests were supposed Shaphan went to see Hilkiah right to read this Book to the people every away. (Mime going to see Hilkiah.) He day. Without the Book, the people gave him my instructions. Hilkiah told would not learn to live as God wanted the gatekeeper-priests to gather the them to. money. (Send priests to collect money.) My father, King Amon, became king Hilkiah began looking around the when he was 22, but he followed grand- temple. (“Hilkiah” starts looking around as

24 LESSON TWO www.gracelink.net/primary if searching for something.) Suddenly he [Josiah] did Thumbs up. shouted, “Come see what I have found!” what was right Everyone came running. (All go to Hilkiah who pulls out the “hidden scroll.”) in the eyes Point to eyes. “What is it?” asked Shaphan. “What happened?” asked the other of the Lord. Point up. priests. “Look at this,” said Hilkiah holding up 2 Chronicles 34:2 Palms toge- a big scroll and smiling. “I found the Book ther; then of the Law! It was right here in the tem- open. ple all along.” “Let me see it,” said Shaphan. Hilkiah Repeat several times showing fewer handed it to him. words each time you open the scroll. Shaphan read a few paragraphs. “The king needs to see this!” he exclaimed. Bible Study “Please take it to him,” Hilkiah Form five pairs or small groups. Give You Need: responded. “He will be so pleased.” each pair one of the following questions. • Bibles So Shaphan brought God’s Book of Assist nonreaders. Allow time for report- the Law to me. And, yes, I was pleased. ing to the class. Next week I will tell you more about what happened when we read the Book 1. How old was Josiah when he of the Law. became king? (2 Kings 22:1) 2. How long did Josiah remain king? Debriefing (2 Kings 22:1) Ask: Why did the people do such 3. What kind of person was Josiah? bad things while King Manasseh and (2 Kings 22:2) King Amon ruled? What kind of exam- 4. What did Josiah tell Shaphan to do ple were those kings? with the money the people had brought How was Josiah different? to the temple? (2 Kings 22:3–6) What did Hilkiah find? 5. What did Hilkiah the high priest When we try to do right things, we find in the temple? To whom did he give encourage others to do right things it? (2 Kings 22:8) too. Let’s say today’s message together: Debriefing Ask: How would you like to be I CAN BE A GOOD EXAMPLE made king or queen? How do you think TO OTHERS. Josiah felt? What made him different from his father and grandfather? Memory Verse How did Hilkiah react when he Write the mem- You Need: found the scroll? ory verse on the • large “scroll” Although we may not be kings or scroll. Open the with memory queens, we are still part of a commu- scroll to show the verse nity that we can influence. God will verse. Have the help us. Let’s say today’s message: children repeat the verse and do the actions. I CAN BE A GOOD EXAMPLE TO OTHERS.

www.gracelink.net/primary LESSON TWO 25 3 Applying the Lesson What can we do to stop these things from becoming idols? Allow dis- Putting God First cussion and list responses as before. You Need: Use the scrolls made in Readiness B Draw or write on your scroll some of • scrolls from or help the children glue the dowels to the things that help us put God first. Readiness B each end of the shelf paper; then show (or direct the them how to roll it up from both ends to Debriefing children to use form a scroll. Allow response time as you ask: the following to Allow response time as you say: In How does putting God first help us make a scroll) become a positive influence on those • 24 inches (60 today’s story the Israelites had been around us? cm) shelf paper led by bad kings to worship idols. per child Today we do not bow down to images Is it always easy to put God first? • 2 dowels per as they did. How can we do that? One way is to child Is it still possible for us to have ask God to be with us. • glue idols in our lives? What could be an Let’s say a prayer right now ask- idol today? Allow discussion time and list ing God to help us put Him first in our responses where all may see. lives. If you want to make that com- An idol is anything that is more mitment, put your hand up while we important to us than God. Idols affect are praying. our relationship with God because At the end of the prayer say: Let’s they take our mind and attention say today’s message together. away from Him. Draw or list on your scroll some things that may become I CAN BE A GOOD EXAMPLE idols. TO OTHERS.

26 LESSON TWO www.gracelink.net/primary 4 Sharing the Lesson Debriefing You Need: Making Ripples Say: Take your pebble with you and • bowl or pan of water Ask: What are some things we can show it to someone today. Give them • pebble or small do that will help us become a positive the pebble and tell them about the rip- ple effect and how you want to try to stone for each influence? List responses. (smile, be child friendly, be helpful, be kind, obey God’s be a good example to others this week. rules, etc.) Invite them to be a good example too. Have the children gather around the That’s the way the ripple effect works. bowl or pan of water. Drop a pebble or Who wants to share with us what small stone in the water. Ask: What you have decided to do to be a better happened when the stone hit the influence on others this week? How water? (It sank; it made ripples in the will you make it happen? Who will water.) help you as you try? How do you Call attention to the ripples and say: think others will react to your exam- Our actions are like ripples. What we ple? How will you feel about it? say or do affects others in some way. Let your pebble help you remem- We want to have a positive or good ber that even small things we do affect effect on others. others. And remember our message: What can you do to be a good example for others at home, at school, I CAN BE A GOOD EXAMPLE or on the playground this week? TO OTHERS. When you think of something you will do, drop your pebble in the water and Closing watch the ripples. Sing “God Made Our Hands” (Sing for Allow time for the children to Joy, no. 57). Close with prayer, asking respond. Then remove the pebbles from God to help the children be a positive the water and give one to each child. influence on those around them.

www.gracelink.net/primary LESSON TWO 27 STUDENT MATERIAL

people killed those officers. And that’s Josiah Gets It Right how Josiah became king when he was still just 8 years old. References Have you ever been in a situation where King Josiah was not like his father 2 Kings 22; a friend tries to get you to do something you and grandfather. He really loved God. 2 Chronicles 34; know is not right? How easy is it to say no? He always tried to do the right thing. Prophets and Kings, Josiah was surrounded by people doing bad As a teenager he dedicated himself to pp. 384, 385, things, but he learned to say no and God. 392–406 changed a whole country. When King Josiah was 20, he began to get rid of all the idols and altars to King Josiah was not at all like his false gods. He destroyed their worship Memory Verse father, King Amon, or his grandfather, places. He tore down their altars. He had “[Josiah] did what King Manasseh. His grandfather did a lot men break up the idols and grind them was right in the of evil things. He built places for people into powder. When King Josiah was 26, he decided eyes of the Lord” to worship false gods and to worship the (2 Chronicles 34:2, stars in the sky. He even offered one of to purify the land and repair the temple. NIV). his sons as a burnt sacrifice to one of He sent his royal assistant, Shaphan, the gods. King Manasseh built strange to see Hilkiah, the high priest. Before idols and altars in God’s temple. He hurt Shaphan left, King Josiah gave him some The Message a lot of people who did not do anything instructions. I can be a good wrong. “Tell Hilkiah to gather all the money example to others. While Manasseh was king, the scroll the gatekeeper-priests have collected with God’s Book of the Law disappeared. from people at the temple,” King Josiah The priests were said. “Tell him that this money is to be supposed to read used to repair the temple. He is to give from this scroll to the money to the builders. They are to the people every pay workers and buy supplies with it.” day. Without Shaphan entered the temple and the scroll, found Hilkiah. Hilkiah listened carefully the people to King Josiah’s instructions. Immediately could not Hilkiah told the gatekeeper-priests to learn about gather the money. The temple would be God. repaired! At this same time, Hilkiah had Josiah’s news for King Josiah. He said to Shaphan, father, King “I have found the Book of the Law! Amon, did “Look at this,” he said, holding up a even worse big scroll and smiling. “It was right here in things. His the temple all along.” officers Hilkiah handed the book to Shaphan. hated him Shaphan read a few paragraphs. “The so much king needs to see this!” he exclaimed. that they “Please take it to him,” said Hilkiah. killed him And Shaphan did. in his own Next week we will discover what palace. And happened when King Josiah received the then the long-lost book.

28 LESSON TWO www.gracelink.net/primary Daily Activities does God want us to be? Sabbath • Find a box or jar and decorate it. Start saving for • Hide a small object and ask your family to try to a special offering for your church. find it. Then read the lesson story together. • Sing a song of praise at worship and ask God to • If possible, go for a walk near some water. Toss help you to be a happy giver. a stone in it and look at the ripples. Ask your Wednesday family: How are the ripples like our influence? • Ask your family whom they admire most and • Thank God for the good example you have in why. your family. • Draw five things that could become idols for Sunday your family. During family worship, talk about • Read and discuss 2 Kings 22 for worship. What how to stop these from becoming idols in your did you learn about King Josiah? home. • Make a scroll and write your memory verse on • Review your memory verse; say it to an adult. it. • Ask God to help you make Him the center of • What is the oldest book in your home? your life. • Ask God to help you to do what is right. Thursday Monday • The builders worked to repair God’s house. • Think of Bible stories about things that were lost What can you do to help your church be a bet- and found. (See Luke 15.) Make a list to share ter place? Make a plan with your family. with your family. • Have a tug-of-war with your family. How is this • Make a book by folding four sheets of paper like the struggle to do the right thing? With and stapling them together. Write some of your God on our side, who will win? How can we favorite texts in the book and share them at resist sin? (See Philippians 4:13.) worship. • Pray for strength to resist temptation. • Plan a “good example” surprise for someone Friday today. Ask Jesus to help you. • Act out the lesson story at family worship. Ask • Thank God for your family. your parents to tell about someone who has Tuesday been a positive influence in their lives. • For family worship, review 2 Kings 22. How did • Say your memory verse together. the priests get things to rebuild the temple? • Thank God for the Sabbath and for your church • Look up 2 Corinthians 9:7. What kind of giver family.

www.gracelink.net/primary LESSON TWO 29